Paper-feeding machine.



E m w HA TM XG EN D E CE F R E P A P Patented Dec. II, I900;

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1900) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 663,672 Patented Dec. ll, I900. T. 6. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Appl 0 ton 1 (1 Ma 31 1900) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 663,672. Patented 0%,, I900. T. c. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1900.

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Shea 3.

mums PETERS ca, woroumu. WASHFNGTON D c No. 663,672. Patented Dec. ll,I900.

T. C..DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

6 (Applicatibh filed. Mar. 31, 1900. (No Model.) 6

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

UMTEE STATES PATENT TALBOT C. DEXTER, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,672, dated December11, 1900. ,ippnmm fil d March 31,1900; swarm. 10,922. inc model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pearl River, in the county of Rockland and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-FeedingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

In paperfeeding machines, folding-ma chines, ruling machines, printing-presses, and other machines designed to operate upon sheets of paper asnow commonly constructed there is a great waste of paper due to theinaccurate feeding of the sheets through or from the machines. Stepshave heretofore been taken to avoid part of this waste by pro vidingautomatic throw out mechanisms which will arrest the operation of themachines in case two or more sheets are fed forward at the same time,and these throw-out mechanisms have accomplished theirohject. Examplesof such machines are found in Patent No. 623,770, granted to me April25, 1899, and in my allowed application, Serial No. 731,203, filedSeptember2l, 1899, both forimprovements in paper-feeding machines.

One. of the objects of mypresent invention is to provide a simple andeffective mechanical sheet-calipering device which is adapted toaccurately gage the thickness of sheets passing through the machine andoperate a throw-out mechanism for arresting the feeding machine when anabnormal thickness 0 sheets'passes.

The novelty in this part of my present invention consists in providinganormally stationary rotatable calipering device which engages andoperates a suitable lever controlling a throw-out mechanism. In thenormal operation of the machine said rotatable calipering device is notaffected; but the moment an abnormal thickness of sheets engages it, asin the case of two sheets passing from the machine at the same time, itWill be rotated sufficiently to actuate the lever for releasingper-controlled throw-out mechanisms effectfeedingmachine but do notovercome the objectionable inaccuracies in the movements of singlesheets from the feeding-machine. Many devices have been produced toinsure the accurate operation of feeding mechanisms, and such deviceshave been successful in improving the operation of the machines; but onaccount of the varying characteristics of different grades of paper itis very difficult to produce a feeding-machine which will operate withunvarying accuracy. I have sometimes supplemented the feeding mechanismsof my feeding-machines with automaticallycontrolled means to prevent thefeed of the sheet from the machine when the sheet is not carried forwardevenly and squarely from the pile, such a mechanism being covered by myallowed application, Serial 'No. 684,471, filed June 25, 1898, forimprovementsin paper-feeding machines. This mechanism comprises twotripping devices arranged transversely of the pile of sheets in positionto be actuated by the leading edge of the sheet and adapted to preventthe operation of the sheet-delivery mechanism until they are bothtripped at the same time by the leading edge of the sheet coming intoregistered positionthat is, squarely acrossthe machine. If a sheet doesnot reach registered position on one stroke of the feeding devices, thedelivery mechanism is held out of operation until the next stroke of thefeeding devices, which being also automatically controlled by themovement of the sheet will correct the position of the sheet, so as toallow the delivery mechanism to operate. The op eration of theautomatically-controlled sheetfeeding devices and sheet-deliverymechanism is satisfactory in a majority of cases; but there is oneobjectionable condition of the sheets encountered at times which thesaid mechanisms cannot successfully overcorne,

viz., the sheets with turned-over corners at the leading edge. Thedelivery mechanism of the printing-press will very often cause thecorners of the sheets to be turned over in piling the sheets upon thedeliveryplatform, and sometimes the corners will be turned back as muchas ten or fifteen inches. When a sheet having one of its forward cornersbent back is fed forward in the feeding-machine, the tripper at the sideof the bent-back corner will not ordinarily be operated on the firststroke of the feedingoif instruments, and

consequently the sheet-delivery mechanism will be held out of operationby the tripper at that side until the completion of the following strokeof the feeding-off instruments, one of which will push forward thebent-back portion of the sheet sufficiently to actuate the tripper,whicharrests the feed instrument at that side and releases the deliverymechanism. The sheet will then be presented at an angle to the deliverymechanism and will be carried from the pile in this position to becomerumpled up in the folder, causing a choke-up and the destruction of allthe sheets which rapidly follow it from the feeder. Such an accidentfrequently destroys from six to a dozen sheets, orif the corner of thesheet is not turned back far enough 'to prevent the accurate Fegister ofthe leading edge of the sheet and the sheet is passed from the feederimproper position there is still great danger of the sheet having theturned-back corner engaging some part of the folder and cansing trouble,as it is very rare that a sheet with a turned-over corner can be passedthrough the folding-machine withoutcausing a choke-up. Furthermore,sheets which are fed from the feeding-machine in some cases do not lieflat in passing to thefolder and are easily caused to curl up, producinga choke-J This is particularly true' up in the folder. when runninglight paper. In fact, I have found that in the practical operation ofpape folding machines by far the greatest num-. ber of interruptions tothe sheets occur be-:

fore the sheets reach above the first fold-rollers.

Another object of my present invention is: to obviate the objectionablechoking of the folding-machine, ruling-machine, or other machine towhich the sheets are fed by the feeding-machine; and to this end myinvention consists, further, of an improved device adapted to be appliedto a folder or other maported in the path of the sheets and anintermittently-operated lever connected with the throw-out mechanism,the arrangement being such that when a sheet is moved into properposition in the folder or other machine the trip-finger will be actuatedand caused to move into the path of said intermittentlyoperated lever tosustain the lever and prevent the operation of the throw-out mechanism;but in case a sheet fails to reach proper position in the machine saidtripper will not be operated, but will remain in its normal inactiveposition and allow said lever to move for actuating the throw-outmechanism and arresting the operation of the feeding-maregisteredposition;

chine. In combination with this detecting device of the folder orothermachine to which sheets are fed I prefer to employ the device of myabove-named application Serial No. 684,471 in the feeding-machine toprevent thefeed of the sheet from the feeder to the folder when thesheet is started from the pile unevenly. With such a combination ofdevices the failure of a sheet to pass from the feeder at eachrevolution is immediately detected by the device on the folder and themachine brought to a standstill, allowing the operator to correct theerror and preventing the passage of a sheet at an angle into the folder.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will firstdescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings andafterwardpoint out the novelty more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings,'Figure l is a detail longitudinal sectional elevationof parts of feeding and folding machines embodying my invention. Fig. lis a detail view of the clutch operated by the-caliper andsheet-detecting devices. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1,illustrating the sheet-calipering device and part of the throw-outmechanism operated byit. Figs. 3 and 4 aredetail plan views of the upperand lower members, respectively, of the calipering device. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the folder attachment and itsconnection with the throw out mechanism of the feeding machine. Fig. 6is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the combined use of thefeeder-controlling device and the sheet-detecting device of thefolding-machine.

The framework of my improved machine may beof any suitableconstruction'to properly supportth'e several mechanisms hereinafterreferred to, and'I will not specifically describe the same.

The pile P of paper to be fed to the folder, printing-press,ruling-machine, or other machine designed to operate upon the paper ismounted upon an automatically-adjustable table or'platform which isintermittently elevated under the control of an aut-omatic'device in theman nerwell understood in the art.

The pile-supportingtable,elevating-screws, and the automatic controllingdevice are not shown in the'drawings, as they do not form any part of myimprovements covered in present application.

delivery mechanism, which preferably consists of the feedrollers,journaled beneath the plane of feed, and the drop-rollers, journaledupon rock-arms keyed to a rock-shaft above the plane of feed. Thismechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 6; but I would have it understoodthat my present improvements do not relate to any specific form of feedmechanism, but to the devices which control the operation of thefeeding-machine and machines to which the sheets are fed therefrom.

10 is the main operating-shaft of the machine. This shaft is providedwith suitable mechanism forintermittently raising and lowering thefeeder-frame in accordance. with the structure set forth in myabove-named application Serial No. 731,203. This shaft also regulatesthe operation of the throw-out mechanism as set forth in saidapplication, and I will now refer to this operation in its relation tothe invention set forth in my present case.

is a cam keyed to the shaft 10, and 16 is a rock-arm keyed to arock-shaft 17, journaled in the side frame of the machine. 18 is anantifriction-roller journaled upon the rockarm 16 and operating upon theperiphery of the cam 15. The rock-arm 16 has a forwardlyprojecting nose16", which normally rests above the upper end of the long lever 19,journaled to the machine-frame at 20. The rockshaft 17 is operativelyconnected with any suitable throw-out mechanism arranged to arrest theoperation of the machine when operated by the movement of the rock-shaft17, caused by the dropping of antifriction-roller 18 of rock-arm 16 intothe depression or low portion of the controlling-cam l5. Thestructure ofthe clutch is hereinafter referred to.

is the lower rotary member of my improved sheet-calipering device,journaled in the machine-frame at 26 at the delivery end of the machine.

27 is the upper normally stationary rotatable member,journaled in arock-arm 23,which in turn is journaled at 29 to the machineframe. Thefree end of the rock-arm 28 has pivotally connected to it a springdevice 30 for giving it a downward spring tendency.

31 is an adjustable limiting-screw threaded through a lug 32 of rock-arm28 and engag ing a rigid lug 33 of the machine-frame. By adjusting thescrew 31 the relation of the upper calipering member to the lower membermay be regulated to a nicety. The calipering member 27 is cut out at 27to make it lighter on its upper side than on its lower side, so it willgravitate to its normal operative position, as shown in Fig. 1.

. Projecting from onet'ace of the upper member 27 of the caliperingdevice is a pin 35, which is adapted to engage an arm 3o, projectingdownwardly from and formed integral with the long lever 19.

and etl are lugs for confining the movement of the rock arm or lever 1936.

1-2 is a light spring for maintaining the le- Ver 19 36 in normalposition, the portion 19 of which in this position rests directly belowthe rock-arm 16 to prevent it from dropping when the low part of cam 15passes, while the lower portion 36 of which rests just in front of thepin 35 upon the upper member 27 of the calipering device.

By means of the adjustment above described the upper member of thecalipering device is arranged just far enough away from the lower memberto allow the free passage of a single sheet of paper between themembers. \Vith the mechanism so adjusted it will be clear that shouldtwo sheets be started forward from the pile at the same time theabnormal thickness of the two sheets passing between the upper and lowermembers of the calipering device will produce a suhicient frictionalengagement between the passing sheets and the upper device to cause theupper member 27 to rotate upon its journal in the arm 28, and as the pin35, carried by the member 27, is just in the rear of the arm 36 said arm36 will be moved forwardly upon its journal, causing the arm 19 to bewithdrawn from beneath the rock-arm 16, leaving no support for rock-arml6 excepting the engagement of the antit'riction-roller 18 with theperiphery of the cam 15. Immediately after the parts have been moved tothis position the low portion of the cam 15 reaches theantifriction-roller 18, and said antifriction-roller drops into the lowportion of the cam, causing. the shaft 17 to be rocked and the throw-outmechanism to be actuated. In this way the passage of two sheets from thefeeder will arrest the operation of the feeder before the sheets areable to travel very far.

Much trouble has been produced in foldingmachines as now commonlyconstructed by reason of the failure of a sheet to reach accurateregistration position before the operation of the folding-blade, in somecases the sheet being so far olf that the blade of the folder will notcarry it through,but will simply choke up the machine, causing allsucceeding sheets which are passed from the feeder before the machine isstopped to be destroyed. To obviate this defect, I provide a device inthe foldingunachine which will detect the absence or inaccurate positionof a sheet and through suitable intervening mechanism will operate thethrow-out mechanism to arrest the feed ing mechanism.

and 51 indicate folding-rollers; 52, the ordinary metal bars over whichthe sheets pass to the folder; 53, the end guide, which arrests thesheet in registered position, and 54 the slotted plate above thefolding-rollers 50 and 51, through the slot of which the folding-bladeoperates.

55 is a bracket mounted upon bar 56, and 57 is a trip-finger journaledto bracket 55 at 58 and extending down into the plane of feed of thesheets between two of the bars 52.

58 is an upwardly-projecting heel of the finger 57 for the purpose whichwill presently appear.

IIO

60 is an intermittently-operated rock-arm journaled at 62 and having aforwardly-projecting arm 63, which extends over adjacent to the upperend of the heel 58 64 is a spring connecting rock-arm 60 withbracket-arm and tending to move the rock-arm and its connected arm 63upon.

their journal 62. Pivotally attached to the rock-arm 60 at 65 is a rodor bar 66, which extends rearwardly to the paper-feeding machine and hasits rear end pivoted at 67 to a rock-arm 68, which is journaled upon therock-shaft 17, so as to move independently of the rock-shaft.

69 is an antifriction-roller journaled upon the rock-arm 68 andoperating upon the periphery of a cam 70, keyed to the main shaft 10,adjacent to the cam 15 above referred to.

71 is an adjustable bracket secured to the rod 66 and formed with afinger 72, which projects into engagement with the rear edge of the longlever 19.

It will be observed that when a sheet fails to reach the gage 53 of thefolder the tripfinger 57 will remain in its normal inactive position, asshown in Fig. 1, in which position the heel 58 is out of reach of thearm 63. When the parts are in this position and the low portion of cam'70 reaches antifrictionroller 69, the spring 64 will draw the rockarm60 forward, moving rock-arm 63 downwardly into engagement with stop 63,the forward movement of rod 66 causing finger 72 to engage lever 19 andmove it out from under the rock-arm 16. The low portion of cam 15immediately thereafter reaches the antifriction-roller 18, allowingrock-arm 16 to drop to rock the shaft 17 and operate the throw-outmechanism. The absence of a sheet from the folder will in this wayarrest the operation of the machine, giving the operator time to correctany inaccuracies which must have occurred.

In combination with the mechanism just described for arresting theoperation of the feeding-machine in case a sheet fails to reach properposition in the folder I propose to employ a sheet-detecting device inthe feedingmachine which will arrest the operation of the sheet-deliverymechanism of the feeder when the feeding-off mechanisms have not starteda sheet from the machine with proper accuracy. Such a mechanism isillustrated,

described, and claimed in my allowed applicorrect the position of thesheet. If the position of the sheet is too far 06 to be corrected by theautomatically-controlled feeding-off devices, the sheet-deliverymechanism will be held out of operation by one of said devices, therebypreventing the movement of the sheet from the machine until thefollowing operation of the feeding devices.

It sometimes occurs in piling sheets delivered from the printing-pressthat the corners of the sheets are turned over some distance back. In.feeding sheets with such turnedover corners the sheet-detecting deviceof the feeding machine may engage one of the turned-over portions of asheet, and thus register the sheet inaccurately on its second stroke. Itis in such a case that the importanceof the combination with such feedersh cot-detecting devices of the improved sheetdetector in thefolding-machine is greatest, for while the feeder takes two strokes toget such a sheet into such position that it will be fed from the machinethe detecting device of the folder has detected the absence of the sheetwhich should have left the machine upon the first stroke of thefeeding-off devices and in the manner above described has arrested theoperation of the feeder. In this way the choking up of the machine isavoided and thenu mber of sheets wasted is minimized.

Referring now to Fig. 6, is one of a series of lower delivery-rollerskeyed upon a constantly rotating shaft 81, journaled in suitablebearings in the machine and driven by any suitable means. (Not shown.)82 is a transversely-extending rock-shaft supporting rock-arms 83, inthe free ends of which are journaled rollers 85. The drop-rollers 85operate in conjunction with lower rollers 80 for delivering the sheetsfrom the machine. The lower rollers 80 are constantly driven by suitablegearing with the main shaft of the machine, and the drop-rollers 85 areintermittently lowered and elevated into and out of peripheral contactwith the rollers 80 in a manner well understood, so that the forwardedges of the sheets will be gripped between the upper and lower rollersand fed rapidly from the machine. The upper rollers are rotated by theirengagement with the lower rollers or the sheet supported upon the lowerrollers.

86 represents one of a series of milled or -knurled wheels or rollerskeyed to a constantly-driven shaft 87 and supported thereby at theforward edge of the pile of sheets.

90 is a rack-bar mounted upon feeder-carriage 3 and formed with a rearcam end 90,

93 is a tripping-finger jourrollers 80. The tripping-finger 93 is formedwith a heel 95, to which is pivoted the lower endof theupwardly-projecting rod 96, which engages the pawl 02 and controls it.

97 is an upwardly-projecting arm or shoulder of the trippingdinger 03,which is supported normally in position to engage the forward end ofarock-ai n1 84, keyed to the rockshaft 82 and projecting rearwardlytherefrom. When the tripping-finger 93 is in normal position in the pathof the sheets, with the arm or shoulder 97 in engagement with the arm84:, it will be observed that the droprollers will be held in elevatedposition.

It will be clear that tWo sets of sheet-feeding mechanisms andsheet-actuated controlling devices are to be used, as explained in myabove-named application, reference to which may be made for a detailedexplanation of the parts.

As has been already stated, the novelty of the main part of my inventionconsists in providing a normally stationary rotatable calipering devicewhich engages and operates a suitable lever controlling a throw-outmechanism. I would have it understood that I intend to claim, broadly,the combination of a throw-out mechanism with a rotatablesheet-calipering device and a lever actuated by the calipering deviceand adapted to operate or control the operation of the throwoutmechanism. It isimmaterial to the scope of my invention whether thecaliper-operated lever engages an arm to normally prevent the operationof the throw-out mechanism, as illustrated in the drawings accompanyingthis application, or controls the operation of the throwout mechanismthrough the medium of some other device. The essence of this part of theinvention which I claim to be broadly new is the combination of somesuitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operation of themachine, a rotatable sheet-calipering device, and a lever adapted tobeoperated by the rotatable calipering device and in some way cause orallow the operation of the throw-out mechanism.

By the expressions sheet-receiving machine and machine adapted toreceive sheets from the feeding-machine employed in some of the claims Irefer to the folder, printing-press, rulingmachine, or other machine towhich sheets are fed by the feedingmachine.

Any suitable form of clutch mechanism maybe employed for arresting theoperation of the machineunder the control of the sheetcaliperingmechanism or sheet-detecting device. I have illustrated in Fig. 1 andwill now describe the clutch mechanism illustrated and described in myabove-named allowed application Serial No. 731,203.

Upon the end of shaft 10, outside of the side frame of the machine, isfreely journaled a main power-gear 100, having attached to or formedintegral with it one member of the automatic clutch. This member of theclutch on gear 100 is shown in the form of a camshaped shoulder 101,having a notch 102 for the engagement of the clutch-dog 103. The dog 103is journaled at 104 to an arm 105, which is adjustably secured to theshaft 10, outside of gear 100, by means of a tap-bolt 106. Formedintegral with an arm 105 is a plate or flange 107, for the purposepresently to be explained. 108 is a spring-arm secured to shoulder 109of arm 105 and having journaled to its free end a small antifriction-roller 110, which is adapted to engage the angular faces ofthe lug 111, attached to or formed upon the face of the rear portion ofdog 103, to hold the dog in engaged or disengaged position.

Keyed to the end. of rock-shaft 17 is a clutchoperating arm 112,. formedwith a depending finger 113, which arm'and finger are supported in thesame longitudinal plane with the clutch-dog 103. Keyed to the rock'shaft17, inside the side frames of the machine, is one or more operatingrock-arms 114, to one of which may be connected an operating-rod, suchas 115, extending forward or backward to a convenient point ofoperation. The rockarms 114 are for returning the parts to normaloperative position after the machine has been thrown out by thecalipering mechanism.

When the rock-arm 16 drops, as above explained, the rock-shaft 17 willbe rocked to throw arm 112 into engagement with the camsurface 103 ofdog 103, thereby forcing the heel 103 of said dog downwardly intoengagement with the plate or flange 107, the nose 103 of the dog beingwithdrawn from the notch 102 to release the main gear 100 and arrest theoperation of shaft 10 and all the operating parts of the machine whichare driven therefrom. When the dog is disengaged in this manner, thespring-arm 108 yields outwardly under the action of angular lug 111 uponantifriction-roller 110, causing said roller to disengage the underangular face of said lug and engage its upper angular face for holdingthe dog in disengaged position. When it is desired to start theoperation of the machine, the rock-shaft 17 is rocked rearwardly by oneof the handlevers, causing finger 113 to engage the forward end of thedog 103 and force it downwardly until the nose 103 rests upon the plateor flange 107, the spring-arm 108 operating as before to give the dog aspring tendency to move into engagement with the other clutch member.The continuously-rotating gear 100 brings the cam-shoulder 101 aroundinto engagement with the nose of the dog and lifts it slightly till thedog springs into engagement with the notch 102 to again lock the clutchmembers together, when the machine immediately starts off.

By the expression a normally stationary rotatable sheet-caliperingdevice used in the specification and claims I refer to'the caliperingdevice being normally stationary against rotative movement and do notintend to limit myself to a calipering member which is stationary in anyother way.

Having thus fully described my invention, the following is what I claimas new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a machine through which sheets of paper arepassed, and suitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operationof said machine, of a normally stationary rotatable sheet caliperingdevice adapted to be operated by an abnormal thickness of sheets, and alever adapted to be actuated by said calipering device and, by itsmovement, to operate the throw-out mechanism, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a lnachinethrough which sheets of paper arepassed, and suitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operationof said machine, with a sheetcalipering device comprising'rotatableupper and lower members between which the sheets are adapted to pass, apin carried by one of said rotatable members; anda lever-arranged to beengaged and actuated by said pin and adapted to operate said throw-outmechanism, substantially as and for the purpos'e set forth.

3. In combination with a machine through which sheets of paper arepassed, a suitable throw-out mechanism arranged to normally allow theoperation of the machine and adapted when operated to arrest theoperation of the said machine, of a normally stationary rotatablesheet-calipering device adapted to be operated by an abnormal thicknessof sheets, and a lever arranged to "be actuated by said rotatablecalipering device and adapt- .ed to cause the operation of the throw-outmechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

, 4. In combination with a machine through which sheets of paper arepassed, and suitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operationof said machine, of a normally stationary rotatable sheet-caliperingdevice adapted to be actuated by the passage of an abnormal thickness ofsheets, alever adapted to be engaged and operated by said rotatablecalipering device, and an arm connected with and operating saidthrow-out'mechanism, said caliper-operated lever being normally inposition to prevent the operation of said throwout arm. 7

5. In combination with a machine through which sheets of paper arepassed, and suitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operationof said machine, with a sheetcalipering device comprising rotatableupper and lower members between which the sheets ale adapted to pass, anarm arranged to operate the throw-out mechanism, and a lever normally inposition to sustain said throw-out operatingarm and adapted to beengaged by oneof said rotatable calipering members and be moved therebyaway from said arm, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a paper-feeding machine, of means for feedingsheets from the pile, suitable throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest theoperation of said sheet-feeding means, arock-arm connected with saidthrow out mechanism for operating it, two rotatable sheet-caliperingmembers arranged to allow the sheets of paper of normal thickness topass between them, and a lever normally in position to sustain thethrow-out operatingarm and arranged to be engaged and moved by one of.the rotatable calipering members, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination in a paper-feeding machine, of suitable sheet-feedingdevices, a throw-out mechanismadapted to arrest the operation of thesheet-feedingdevices, an arm operatively connected with the thr'owoutmechanism, a lever normally in position to sustain said throw-outoperating-arm, a pair of rotatable calipering member'sarranged adjacentto the plane of feed for the sheets to pass between them, meansforregulating the space between the two calipering members, and means ofengagement between one of said calipering members and said lever,substantially as set forth.

8. The combination in a paper-feeding machine,of suitablesheet-feedingdevices,throwout mechanism adapted to arrest the operationof the sheet-feeding devices, a sheet-calipering device comprising tworotatable members, one of which is mounted in rigid bearings while theother one of which is mounted in an adjustable frame, a spring deviceengaging said adjustable frame, suitable adjusting means for regulatingthe space between the two calipering members, and suitable meansoperated by one of said calipering members adapted to effect theoperation of the throwout mechanism, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination in a paper-feeding machine, of suitable sheet-feedingdevices, a throw-out mechanism adapted to arrest the operation of thesheet-feeding devices, upper and lower rotatable sheet-caliperingmembers between which the sheets pass, a spring-actuated frame, in whichthe upper calipering memher is journaled, means for'adjustingtheposition of said frame, a lever adapted to be engaged by said uppercaliperiug member, a rock arm operatively connected With the throw-outmechanism, a rotary cam normally engaging and sustaining said rock-arm,and a finger projecting from said rock-arm and adapted to beintermittently engaged and sustained by said lever when the caliperingdevice is not operating,substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with a paper-feeding machine having suitablethrow-out mechanism for arresting its operation, of a machine adapted toreceive sheets from the feedingmachine, a sheet-actuated trippingdevicein the said sheet-receiving machine, an intermittently-operateddevice for actuating said throw-out mechanism, a rock-arm connected withsaid tripper and adapted to engage said int ermittently-operated deviceto prevent the operation of the throw-out mechanism When the tripper isactuated, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a paper-feeding machine and suitable throw-outmechanism therefor, suitable intermittently-operated delivery mechanism,and a sheet-actuated tripping device arranged to normally prevent theoperation of said delivery mechanism, and adapted when tripped by asheet to allow the operation of said delivery mechanism, of a machineadapted to receive sheets from the feeding-machine, a sheet-actuatedtripper in the said sheet-receiving machine, and means controlled by thereceiving-machine tripper for operating the throw-out mechanism of thefeeding-machine, substantially as set forth. 13. The combination With apaper-feeding machine and suitable throw-out mechanism therefor,suitable intermittently'operated delivery mechanism, and asheet-actuated tripping device arranged to normally prevent theoperation of said delivery mechanism, and adapted when tripped by asheet to allow the operation of said delivery mechanism, of a machineadapted to receive sheets from the feeding-machine, a sheet-actuatedtripper in the sheetreceiving machine, an intermit- Ientlyoperateddevice for actuating the throw-out mechanism, and a part connected Withthe receiving-machine tripper adapted to engage theintermittently-operated device and prevent its operation of thethrow-out mechanism, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a paper-feeding machine having suitablethrow-out mechanism for arresting its operation, of a machine adapted toreceive sheets from the feedingmachine, a sheet-actuated tripping devicein the said receiving-machine, a spring-actuated rock-arm, meansconnecting said rock-arm with the throw-out mechanism for actuatingtheylatter, means normally restraining said spring-actuated rock-arm andintermittently releasing it, and a part connected With the tripperadapted to engage said rock-arm and prevent its operation when releasedby its restraining means, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. I

15. The combination with a paper-feeding machine having suitablethrow-out mechanism for arresting its operation, a rock-arm adapted toactuate the throw-out mechanism, and an arm or lever normally sustainingsaid rock-arm, of a machine adapted to receive sheets from thefeeding-machine, a sheet-actuated tripping device in the saidsheet-receiving machine, a spring-actuated rockarm, a rod extending fromsaid spring-actuated rock-arm and adapted to engage said arm or leverwhich normally sustains the throw-out operating rock-arm, means normallyrestraining said spring-actuated rock-arm and intermittently releasingit, and a part connected with the tripper adapted to engage a partconnected with said spring-actuated rock-arm, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

' TALBOT O. DEXTER.

Witnesses:

J. GREEN, WM. E. KNIGHT.

